Stencil-cutting machine



(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 1. O. K. PIOKLESUKB J. A. HOFP. TBNG IL CUTTING MACHINENo. 544,193., Pat ented Aug. 6,1895.

(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

G. K. PICKLES & J. A. HOFP.

STENCIL CUTTING MACHINE.

UNTTED STATES ATEN OFF CHARLES K. PICKLES AND JOHN A. HOFF, OF ST.LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGN- ORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE AMERICANSTENCIL MACHINE COMPANY, OF EAST ST. LOUIS, ILLINOIS.

' STENCIL-CUTTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 544,193, dated August6, 1895. Application filed October 18, 1894. Serial No. 526,30 (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern; within which is vertically positioned a boltBe it known that we, CHARLES K. PIOKLES 13, having ashonlder 14 nearestits lower end andJoHN A. IIOFF, citizens of the United portion, adaptedto impinge against the up- States, and residents of St. Louis, in theState persurface ofsaid hub, and held in its seatby of Missouri, haveinvented new and useful means of nuts 15, mounted on the screw- 55Improvementsin Stencil-CuttingMachines,of threaded lower end portion ofsaid bolt.

which the following is a specification. Mounted for rotationhorizontally on the The object of our invention is to provide bolt 13and resting on the shoulder'li of said improved means for cuttingstencil-letters in bolt 13 is a matrix-plate 16, having a central [0sheets of paper, cardboard, and analogous vertically-apertured hub 17,forming thebear- 60 substances, and to feed the said card-board ing onsaid bolt, and transverse radial ribs 18, or stencil-sheet across theplane of the cutcast integral with said plate and hub, A rim tingmechanism in advance of the. cutting op- 19 is formed on and extendsdownwardly from eration. the periphery of the matrix-plate 16, which Ourinvention comprises a table, a matrixrim is vertically apertured inseries and re- 65 plate mounted for horizontal rotation on said cessedin its upperface,a plurality of matrices table, a patrix-plate mountedfor horizontal being mounted in the recess of said rim rotation on saidtable and locked to said maand secured to the plate by means of screwstrix-plate, an index-ring, a yoke mounted for 21, as shown in detail inFig. 2.

2 horizontal rotation independently of or con- Mounted upon the bolt 13,above the ma- 7o junotively with the patrix and matrix plates,iriX-plate 16, is a patrix-plate 22, which paa hand-lever mounted foroscillation in said trix-plate has a central vertically-apertured yokeand adapted for manual actuation, feedhub 23 resting on the hub 17, andsecured ing mechanism adapted to be acted upon by thereto and adaptedfor horizontal rotation 5 said lever, and means whereby said lever mayon the said bolt conjn-nctively with the ma- 7 be caused to successivelyand progressively intrix-plate. The patrix-plate is provided withdependently actuate the patrices. a plurality of radialstrengthening-ribs 21 Ourinvention further comprises theconanda-peripheralupwardly-extendingintegral struction, arrangement, andcombination of rim 25, in which rim a series of hubs is formed,

parts hereinafterset forth, pointed out in our each of which hubs isvertically apertured 8) claims, and illustrated by the accompanying andhas mounted therein a patrix 26, which drawings, in which patrix isadapted for vertical reciprocation in Figure 1 is a plan view showingthe device its seat, the series of patrices vertically alignin positionfor actual use. Fig. 2 is a. deing with the series of matrices 20. Eachpatailed plan of a portion of the matrix-plate. trix 26 is provided witha head 27 on itslower 8 Fig. 3 isasectional elevation on the indicatedend, which head carries a symbolical configline 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 isa front elevation uration coincident with the aperture'repreof thefeeding mechanism. Fig. 5 is a secsenting a symbolical configuration inthe ma tional elevation of the feeding mechanism. trix 20 beneath thesame, and a retractile 0 Fig. 6 is a detailed elevation in section ofthe spring 28, one end of which spring -is passed or; cutting andfeeding mechanismsin one posithrough a perforation transversely locatedin tion. Fig. 7 is a detailed elevation in section the upper portion ofthe patrix, the opposite of the cutting and feeding mechanisms in anendof said spring being seated in a guideother position. Fig. 8 is adetailed sectional rim 29 on the patrixplate. Recesses 30 3O plan ontheline 8 8 of Fig. 3. Fig. 9 is an are formed in the inner and outerfaces, re- 95 elevation of the patrix-operating bolt. spectively, of thepatrix 26 near the upper In the construction of the machine as shown endof said patrix, for a purpose hereinafter the numeral 10 designates atable having a to be explained. central concave-convex portion 11,centrally The guide-rim 29 is located on'and fixed to apertured andprovided with abossed hub 12, the radial ribs 21 of the patrix-plate,and is 10::

provided with aseries of upwardly-extending inclined posts or studs 31corresponding in number with the patrices 26 and providing spaces inradial alignment with said patrices. The perimetal edges of the posts 31are attenuated, thus providing flaring sides for the spaces between saidposts.

An index-ring is formed integral with the guide-rim 29, which index-ringis designated as 32 and bears upon its upper surface symbolscorresponding with the symbolical configurations of the patrices andmatrices.

The index-ring, guide-rim, patrices, and matrices are concentric withthe bolt 13 and have a common vertical axis, which is the axis of saidbolt. A collar 33 is mounted loosely on the bolt 13 in contact with theupper surface of the hub 23, and a yoke-bar 34, having a centralvertically-apertured hub 35, is mounted on the bolt 13 in contact withthe upper surface of the collar 33, and is adapted for horizontalrotation on said bolt, being held to its seat by means of a washer 36and nuts 37. The yoke bar is formed with a downwardly-turned bossed endportion 38, having a flattened surface, which portion 38 rests upon andhas a sliding bearing with a ring 39 formed on or fixed to the table 10concentric with the depressed portion 11 of said table and verticallyextending therefrom. The end portion of the yoke-bar 34 opposite to theportion 38 is bifurcated, and a handlever 40 is mounted for oscillationon a pin 41, transversely seated in said bifurcation, the lower portionof said hand-lever extending through said bifurcation and being providedwith a tongue 42, adapted for engagement with the guide-posts 31. Theyoke-bar 34 is provided with a vertically-apertured bossed portion 43,in which is mounted for vertical reciprocation a patrix-operating bolt44, Fig. 9, which bolt has downwardly-extending converging arms 45 45,adapted for engagement in the recesses 30 30 of the patrices 26. Thebolt 44 is transversely slotted at 46, and a boltlever 47, mounted onthe pin 41 within a bifurcation 48 in the hand-lever 40 and having anarm 49, passes through said slot and has a limited vertical movementtherein. The boltlever 47 has a notched arm 50, the notch in said armbeing adapted to embrace a pin 51, transversely seated in thebifurcation of the lever 40, the dimension of said notch beingmaterially greater than the diameter of said pin 51. A retractile spring52, fixed at one end to the hand-lever 40 and at the other end to a stud53, mounted on the yoke-bar 34, serves to retain the said lever in avertical position.

The arm 49 of the bolt-lever 47 extends through and beyond the slot 46in the bolt 44, and is pivotally connected at its extremity with theupper end of a bolt 57, mounted for vertical reciprocation in theextreme outer end of the yoke-bar 34. The lower end of the bolt 57 isconoidal and normally occupies a position in an aperture 58 in the ring39, adjacent to the front of the machine, which aperture 58 connectswith a slot 59, also formed in said ring. A trigger 60 is pivotallymounted at its lower ends on a pin 61, trans- Versely seated in the ring39 below the slot 59, which trigger is provided with an apexed upper end62, having an inclined forward face 63 normally in the vertical plane ofthe bolt 57. A retractile spring 64, fixed at one end to the ring 39 andat the other end to the upper end portion of the trigger 60, serves toretain said trigger in a normal position, the trigger being retainedagainst lateral movement by engagement in the slot 59. A clip 65 ispivotally mounted at one end on a pin 66, seated horizontally in thering 39, which clip is provided with an aperture 67 in the end thereofopposite to the pin 66, in which aperture is mounted an eccentric 68,pivoted on a pin 69 mounted in the ring 39, which eccentric has a handle70 adapted for manual actuation to rotate the same. A pivotal pin 71 istransversely positioned in the central portion of the clip 65, and afeed-wheel 72 is pivotally mounted on said pin, which feed-wheel hasintegrally formed thereon a ratchet-wheel 73, Fig. 5. A gravity-pawl 74,having a hooked forward end 75, is fulcrumed on the upper end portion ofthe trigger 60 and engages with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 73. Anaperture 76 is formed in the table 10 in alignment with the feed-wheel72, through which aperture projects a follower feed-wheel 77, having theapex of its perimeter flush with the upper surface of the table 10, thesaid wheel 77 being rotatably mounted in the forward end of a retractileleaf-spring 78, secured to and below the table 10. An expansiveleaf-spring 79 is fixed at one end to the horizontal portion of the ring39 and impinges at its other end against a laterally-extending lug 80 onthe movable end portion of the clip 65, the tendency of said springbeing to depress the said clip and hold the same in rigid engagementwith the eccentric 68. A depressing spring-arm 81 is fixed at one end tothe clip 65 above the eccentric 63, and extending rearwardly from saidclip in the longitudinal plane thereof has pivotally mounted in itsouter end aserrated guide-wheel 82, the resilience of said arm beingadjusted by means of an adjusting-screw 83, mounted in said arm andimpinging against the said clip. This arm and the wheel provide atrailer for supporting the rear end of the clip.

A series of perforations 84 are formed in the table 10 in a radial linelongitudinally of said table from the axis of the bolt 13, whichperforations are adapted to receive at different times a pin 85, bymeans of which pin a stencil-sheet 86 is provided with an axis ofrotation and held in a fixed relation to the said table.

An index-finger 87 is fixed to and extends laterally from the hub 35 ofthe yoke-bar 34, the extremity of said finger being in verticalalignment with the index-ring 32.

The practical use of this machine involves an operation as follows: Thestencil-sheet 86 is introduced beneath the feed mechanism and inalignment with and between the patrix and matrix plates by manualoperation, the clip being first oscillated by the rotation of theeccentric 68 to elevate the feed-wheel 72 out of engagement with thefollower 77, the said clip being repositioned, as shown in Fig. 4, afterthe insertion of the stencil-sheet. Ifit be desired to cut a series ofapertures in the stencil-sheet concentric with the center of said sheet,the pin 85 is positioned as shown in Fig. 1, the sheet being held inengagement with the table at its peripheral portion by thegnide-wl1eel82 through the tension of the arm 81. The hand-lever 40being in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 1, it is moved in an orbitconcentric with the bolt 30 by manual operation until such time as theindex-finger 87 indicates the symbol to be first employed on thestencil-sheet, at which time said handlever is oscillated into thepositionshown by dotted lines in Fig. 3, thus bringing the tongue 42 ofsaid lever into a space between two of the guide-posts 31, as designatedin Fig. 6. A continuation of the orbital movement of the hand-lever 40causes a rotation of the yoke-bar 34, patrix-plate 22, and matrix-plate16 conjunctively, and such orbital movement is continued until the bolt57 is brought into vertical alignment with the aperture 58 of the ring39. At this time the hand-lever 40 is moved outwardly from the vertical,thus causing an engagement of the pin 51 with the outer arm of thebifurcated end portion 50 of the lever 47, thus oscillating saidbolt-lever 47 on its fulcrum 41 and causing a depression of the outerend of the arm 49, which by reason of its pivotal connection with thebolt 57 depresses said bolt into engagement with the inclined face 63 ofthe trigger 60, this movement of depression being permittedindependently of any movement of the bolt 44 by reason of the slot 46 insaid bolt having a greater length than the vertical dimension of saidarm 49. A continuation of the depressing movement of the bolt 57 afterthe engagement of said bolt with the inclined face 63 of the trigger 60oscillates said trigger on its fulcrum 61, and by reason of the rigidconnection of the pawl 74 and said trigger the said pawl is caused toengage with the ratchet-wheel 73 and rotate said ratchet-wheel, themovement of rotation of said ratchet-wheel being synchronously impartedto the feed-wheel 72, and the stencilsheet being retained between saidfeed-wheel and the follower 77 it follows that upon the rotation of saidfeed-wheel the stencil-sheet will be advanced, the line of advance beingdetermined by the engagement of the guidewheel 82 and its relation tothe pin 85. The further oscillation outwardly of the handlever 40 bringsthe arm 49 of the lever 47 to the limit of the slot 46 in the bolt, 44and causes an engagement of said arm with said bolt, which depresses thesaid bolt in contact with the patrix 26 in alignment-therewith andthrough the resilience of the spring 52 in a vertical position, theengagement of the pin 51 with the inner .arm of the lever 47 oscillatingsaid lever 47 and causing the arm 49 thereof to elevate the bolts 44 57,and by reason of the engagement of the hooks 45 in the recesses 30 ofthe patrix also elevating said patrix, the said elevation of said patrixbeing assisted by the resilience of the spring 28.

A succession of the above-described movements will result in thesuccessive and progressive formation of letters and symbols in thestencil-sheet.

When it is desired to form parallel transverse lines of perforations inthe stencil-sheet, the pin 85 is removed and the said sheet permitted tocross the table 10 under the influence of the feed mechanism and theguide wheel.

What we claim is- 1. A stencil cutting machine comprising a table,matrix and patrix plates mounted for conjunctive rotation on said tableand separated a short distance from each other, a yokebar mounted forrotation independently of or conjunctively with said plates, patricesmounted in said patrix plate and adapted for vertical reciprocationtherein, an operating bolt mounted in said yoke bar, a hand-leverfulcrnmed in said yoke bar and adapted for manual actuation, a bol-lever fulcrnmed in said hand-lever, connections between said levers,and feed mechanism and means whereby the feed mechanism is connectedwith said bolt-lever as set'forth.

2. In a machine of the class described a yoke-bar having a bifurcatedend portion, a hand-lever mounted for manual oscillation in thebifurcation of said yoke-bar and having a bifurcated portion, abolt-lever mounted in the bifurcated portion of the hand-lever andhaving a common fulcrum therewith and a notched end portion, a pin insaid hand-lever having a travel in said notch and engagement with thebolt-lever, patrix and matrix plates, patrices, an operating bolt, and atable.

3. In a machine of the class described a table having a verticallyextending ring, an axial bolt, patrix plate having guide-posts andmatrix plate mounted on said axial bolt within said ring, a yoke barmounted on said axial bolt and in engagement with said ring at bothends, which yoke bar is provided with a bifurcated portion, a hand-levermounted insaid bifurcated portion of said yoke bar the patrix operatingbolt, means for operating the latter from the hand-lever and a tongue onsaid handlever forming aconnection between said yoke bar and the guideposts of the patrix plate.

4. In a machine of the class describedapatrix plate having a series ofpatrices therein, a yoke bar located above said patrix plate, anoperating bolt mounted for vertical reciprocation in said yoke bar andmechanism whereby said operating bolt is caused to engage individualpatrices consisting of a hand-lever, a bolt-lever engaging the bolt, apivot pin common to both of the levers whereby the latter are pivoted tothe yoke-bar, and pin and slot connection between the levers.

5. In a machine of the class described a patrix having oppositelyarranged transverse recesses, and operating bolt having engaging armsadapted to embrace the recessed portion of said patrix and mechanismwhereby said bolt and patrix are conjunctively operated consisting of asupporting bar, a hand-lever, a bolt-lever engaging the bolt, apivot-pin common to both of the levers whereby the latter are pivoted tothe bar, and pin and slot connection between the levers.

6. In a machine of the class described an operating bolt having atransverse slot, a boltlever extended through said slot and meanswhereby said bolt-lever is oscillated to reciprocate said boltconsisting of a supporting, bar, a hand-lever, a pivot pin common toboth of the levers whereby they are pivoted to the bar, and a pin andslot connection between the levers.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a tablehaving a ring formed with an aperture, a bolt operated through theaperture and mechanism comprising the mating feed-wheels locatedrespectively above and beneath the table, a ratchet located on the upperfeed-wheel and a trigger pivoted to the ring and having an apexed upperend formed with an inclined forward face normally in the vertical planeof the bolt, a pawl pivoted to the trigger and engaging the ratchet, anda spring for returning the trigger to normal position, substantially asdescribed.

8. In a machine of the class described, the feeding mechanism comprisingmating feedwheels located respectively above and beneath the table, aratchet located on the upper feed wheel, an upwardly extending triggerhaving the inclined face at the top thereof, and a pawl pivoted to thetrigger and overhanging and engaging the ratchet, an operating boltadapted to engage the inclined face of the trigger and to oscillate thelatter, a bolt-lever, and a hand-lever connected with the boltlever;substantially as described.

9. In a machine of the class described, the feeding mechanism comprisingmating feedwheels located respectively above and beneath the table, aratchet located on the upper feedwheel, an upwardly extending triggerhaving an inclined face at the top thereof, a pawl pivoted to thetriggerand overhanging and engaging the ratchet, a clip on which theupper feed-wheel is mounted, a spring holding down the clip, and anadjustable trailer su ppor ting the rear end of the clip, an operatingbolt adapted to engage the inclined face of the trigger and to oscillatethe latter, and mechanism whereby the bolt is reciprocated.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a support, apatrix, a boltlever, an operating bolt having a slot of greater depththan the width of the arm of the boltlever passing therethrough, afeeding mechanism, a bolt operating the feeding mechanism, and connectedwith the bolt of the feeding mechanism, so as to depress it in advanceof the slotted bolt, a hand-lever having a pivot in common with thebolt-lever, and means for connecting the levers; substantiallyasdescribed.

In testimony whereof we hereunto have set our hands at St. Louis,Missouri.

CHARLES K. PICKLES. JOHN A. HOFF. In presence of S. (1. SWEET,

L. J. BARLoW.

